The Best Easter Getaways Around Athens

This year, Greece’s biggest Orthodox celebration, the beloved family gathering awaited by everyone, falls on 12 April, and it’s the perfect excuse to experience the magic from the inside. From one end of the country to the other, every region brings its own flair.

We’ve rounded up the most charming Easter escapes close to Athens, so you can soak up this truly special atmosphere while discovering the beautiful surroundings too.

Hydra, the ever‑charming island just a whisker from Athens, is a sweet escape thanks to its bucolic scenery, where donkeys still take the place of cars, and its beautifully choreographed Easter weekend.

Good Friday sets the tone, with the blessing of the epitaph from the Kamini area and its solemn immersion in the sea, a tradition dating back to 1923 and believed to protect sailors on their journeys. After a long island‑wide procession and the careful decoration of the churches by locals and visitors alike, the spiritual atmosphere settles in. Holy Week naturally culminates on Easter Sunday afternoon at Hydra’s port, right in front of the Merchant Marine School, with the spectacular burning of Judas, a life‑sized straw‑stuffed effigy prepared well before the celebrations begin, its left hand clenched except for one pointed finger holding a purse filled with the infamous thirty silver coins.

Another favourite Easter escape for Athenians is the delightful little city of Nafplio, just a two‑hour drive away. Arriving in springtime feels like stepping into a postcard: endless fields of orange trees line the way, filling the air with that fresh, citrusy scent, while the town itself bursts into bloom with cascades of pink bougainvillea; the sweetest welcome to the new season.

On Lazarus Saturday, women and children knead the traditional lazaraki breads while singing, and from that moment the aroma of freshly baked tsoureki mingles beautifully with the fragrance of blossoming trees. Good Friday brings a moving procession of psalms, choirs and lanterns, as the epitaphs from the city’s four churches weave through the streets before gathering together in Syntagma Square. And to crown the celebrations, make sure you catch the fireworks lighting up the sky on Resurrection night.

Tinos

 
@idiscover.gr

Tinos is a unique Easter destination, home to a significant community of Greek Catholics who live in perfect harmony with their Orthodox neighbours, and often blend their celebrations as a beautiful sign of unity, even when their Easter dates don’t quite align. The whole island is steeped in a deeply spiritual atmosphere, centred around the famed Church of Our Lady of Tinos, which houses the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary discovered during the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

Yet there’s so much more to explore: six museums and galleries, including the Archaeological Museum of Tinos, the iconic Venetian‑era dovecotes scattered across the landscape, and a constellation of charming little villages perfect for wandering. On Tuesday, treat yourself to the island’s flower‑shaped Easter cheese pies, made with soft unsalted cheese. Good Friday brings one of Tinos’ most touching traditions, when the island’s single women bless the Epitaph of Agios Nikolaos before it is carried to the sea in a candlelit, flower‑strewn procession. In Chora Square, surrounded by sung prayers, the Epitaph glows dramatically as torches ignite around it. And the next morning, with shops closed until noon in mourning of Christ’s death, you’ve got the perfect excuse to slow down and savour the island’s peaceful rhythm!

---

Prefer to celebrate Easter in the capital this year?
We’ve found the spots that offer a truly authentic city experience!

---

Leonidio might just hold one of Greece’s most heart‑melting Easter traditions. On the night of the Resurrection, the sky shimmers with hundreds of handmade hot‑air balloons and lanterns crafted from bitter‑orange peels, all rising to the sound of “Christ is risen”.

The magic begins weeks earlier, when groups of women gather each afternoon to hollow out thousands of oranges, storing the peels in freezers until the celebrations. By Good Friday, families decorate their homes and shopfronts with these glowing lanterns, ready for the Epitaphios procession. As candlelight fills the streets, the air turns deliciously sweet as the orange peels scorch and caramelise, adding an almost fairytale touch to the evening. Against the backdrop of Leonidio’s elegant 19th‑century stone mansions, the whole scene feels utterly enchanting.

Less than two hours from Athens lies the perfect little escape, hidden among lush greenery and running waters: the Springs of Krya in Livadia. Once you reach the town, wander through the centre towards the main square, then continue on foot along pathways lined with trees, streams and waterfalls. It feels like stepping into a cool, leafy oasis. Beyond its natural charm, Livadia also offers plenty to explore, from the medieval fortress and the ancient Oracle of Trophonius to the church of Agia Jerusalem.

And as if that weren’t tempting enough, the town is renowned for its delicious local dishes, quality meat products and traditional tavernas, making it an ideal spot to savour both nature and flavour in one easy getaway.

If, on Easter Sunday night, you happen to cross paths with groups of people dressed in traditional costumes and carrying handmade cylindrical rockets filled with gunpowder and oil, don’t panic: you’ve simply encountered the bouloukia, on their way to celebrate the saitopolemos, a historic custom dating back to the Ottoman era. According to local legend, these rockets were once used by the Messinians during the Greek Revolution to fend off Turkish cavalry. There’s no solid historical proof for this, but the tale certainly adds a heroic flair to the tradition, which culminates in a dazzling spectacle of light and sound, complete with the dramatic “zeibekiko fire dance”.

 

On the beautiful island of Spetses, Good Thursday is devoted to the Epitaph, which winds its way through the town’s narrow alleyways before reaching the central square. Here, the four main parishes join the procession, their followers singing hymns and carrying glowing candles. Later that night, while fireworks crackle across the island, the church of Analipsi makes its presence known by dramatically blowing up a wooden boat, adding its own thunder to the celebrations. For those who prefer something gentler, the monastery offers a far more solemn yet truly magical Resurrection service held in the quiet of the graveyard.

Beyond the festivities, Spetses is a joy to explore: wander through its fragrant pine forests and admire the sweeping views over the beaches. With cars banned on the island, you can roam by moped, quad bike, electric bicycle or even horse‑drawn carriage, taking in the neoclassical architecture inspired by the grand resort hotels of the French Riviera. Follow one of the island’s 19 hiking routes covering an impressive 65 km through pine woods or along the coastal path north of the Old Harbour, where you’ll find Natalia Mela’s striking animal sculptures. Art is everywhere in Spetses: from the metallic goats nibbling olives to the mermaid with chain‑like hair waving sailors off to sea. Back at the port, stop by the Roumani Hotel and the Kafenion complex to admire the artworks and retro signs created decades ago by the renowned ceramist Panos Valsamakis, a rare example of public art that still brightens the island. And don’t miss the beautiful pebble mosaics depicting fish, dolphins, octopi and mermaids, crafted not by a single artist but by generations of local artisans, giving Spetses its unmistakable charm.